Developing Narrative Tools for Early Childhood Learning Transitions

The successful transition from Kindergarten to Primary School is considered crucial to ensure the fulfilment of the Childs potentials for learning and expression. In spite of political aims and ministerial programs, there are still many children who do not experience a fulfilling entry into primary school and subsequently become early school leavers. A European R&D project addresses the challenge of providing ICT-based tools for a creative and narrative approach to the transition challenges in Early Childhood Care and Education ( ECCE). This paper presents the preliminary results from the project, with a focus on the development of ICT-tools for supporting the Early Childhood Transitions. The tools are animation based and developed on a pedagogical framework. The framework builds on theories regarding the pedagogical use of ICT in Kindergartens and Primary School, the importance of creative and narrative approaches, as well as collaborations across context involving family, Kindergarten and Primary School. The ICT-based tools have been tested in a Kindergarten and the results and implications for pedagogical recommendations are presented.